Valve assembly for a fuel pump

A valve assembly for a fuel pump for a fuel system, the fuel pump comprising a pump chamber and the valve assembly comprising a solenoid winding; and an electromagnetically controlled armature operable under the influence of an electromagnetic field generated by applying a current to the solenoid winding. The armature is coupled to a valve member cooperable with a valve seat to control fuel flow, and the armature is movable within an armature bore and is exposed to fuel within an armature chamber defined within the armature bore. The valve assembly includes a clearance defined between the armature and the armature bore which defines a variable restriction to the fuel flow, whereby during armature movement in use the fuel is displaced from the armature chamber through the variable restriction so that the speed of movement of the armature is reduced as the armature moves further into the armature chamber.